REVIEW BY: SCOTT BOCCACCIO | PHOTOS BY: JOHN BOYER & BRIAN MATUS

Local metal newcomers Million Miles from Broadway opened the show as patrons waited in line to enter. The first band up was the new metal super-group Tenafly Viper.  Containing members of Mushroomhead, (vocalist Waylon Reavis and drummer Steve Felton); as well as Jim LaMarca Formerly of Chimaira and Tommy Church of the Autumn Offering. Waylon mentioned that they were touring “for free” in support of their upcoming release “The Queen, The Night, And The Liars.” As the album title suggested this band was more about sex, drugs, and rock and roll then metal.  Tenafly Viper was a great warm-up for the show to come, but I don’t expect to see them as an opener the next time they come around.  I see a lot of promise in those fellas.

Next up was Corvus from Arizona.  They played a tight set, I am not familiar with their music yet, but the way they got the crowd into the show has enticed me to check them out further.

Head 1 :AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE

After a long, Hiatus American Head Charge is back.  Lead by the onstage antics of Vocalist Cameron Heacock, AHC made their triumphant return to the stage in Rochester after an 11 year absences.  The metal sextet hit the stage with a fury. Playing old favorites from “The Art of War” and “The Feeding.”  Highlights of the set would include: Heacock hanging by his legs from the lighting trust during hit single “Just So You Know” and Climbing a water pipe during a second hit single “Loyalty”.  An amped up set left me to believe that AHC hasn’t lost a step and looking forward to seeing them again and hopefully some new music to be made.

Head 2 : MUSHROOMHEAD

After a brief set change the lights went out and the masked marvels took the stage.  The two vocal attack of Jeffrey nothing and Waylon took the crowd by storm as the Cleveland Ohio rockers came in support of their latest release “Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children”.  It was a welcome surprise to see that the all the members were able to fit the stage and none of MH amazing stage setup had to be sacrificed.  The Water Toms took the crowd by surprise when St1tch and Major Trauma beat their skins for the first time and water hit the ceiling.  MH played an extended set with such fan favorites as Bwomp, Solitaire/Unraveling, Never let it go, Sun Doesn’t Rise, Kill Tomorrow, and even caught the crowd off-guard with quick snippet of their rendition of Pink Floyd’s Empty spaces.  The original masked men proved that they have not lost a step.  I can’t wait to see them the next time around supporting a new album.

HED 3 :HED(pe)

To close out the night was SOCAL punk/infusion rockers HED(pe).  They took the stage and they took it with authority.  15 years and hundreds of songs later everyone still knew all the words.  What a following, Jared and his crew have.  He was in awe of the turnout he saw in front of him.  After releasing an album a year for the last few HED took a year off in 2011 and it worked wonders as the live set was rejuvenated and worth seeing.  They ripped through an endless number of songs including ground, bartender, CBC, Crazy legs, Here and now, and even pulled of some good reggae including a Bob Marley cover.  The crowd begged for more and got it as HED played until they had to be shut down.
What a great night for Metal in Rochester!

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TOUR DATES :

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE:
6/08/12 ROCHESTER, MN _ Wicked Moose w/ Blue Felix
6/09/12 ST CLOUD, MN – Bubba’s
6/10/12 FARGO, ND – The Nestor Tavern
6/12/12 DULUTH, MN – Clyde Iron
6/13/12 MANKATO, MN – Buster’s Bar
6/14/12 GREEN BAY, WI – Hideout
6/15/12 FRIDLEY, MN – Pickle Park w/ Devilsex, Nuisan…
6/16/12 STEGER, IL – Another Hole In The Wall
6/17/12 ROCKFORD, IL – Bar 3

MUSHROOMHEAD:
6/08/12 STEGER, IL – ANOTHER HOLE IN THE WALL
6/09/12 FRIDLEY, MN – PICKLE PARK
6/10/12 FORT WAYNE, IN – C2G MUSIC HALL
Tour: ROCKAPALOOZA 2012
6/22/12 JACKSON, MI – JACKSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
6/29/12 GENEVA, OH – THE COVE
6/30/12 LOUISVILLE, OH – THE CARRIAGE HOUSE
7/06/12 TOLEDO, OH – THE ZODIAC

HED (p.e.)
7/27/12 SRH Fest w/ Kottonmouth Kings – LAS VEGAS, NV
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PHOTO GALLERIES :

HED 2 HEAD 3 :: PHOTO GALLERY

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LINKS:

(HED) P.E. :

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MUSHROOMHEAD : mushroomhead.com

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AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE: headcharge.com

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CORVUS :

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TENAFLY VIPER :

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